• Brendon Davis

    What is "Flexibility" in reference to the comparisons?

    What is flexibility in Car and Driver's comparison tests? I was reading about the ZR1 vs. GT500 article and stumbled across that word. What, in the context, is flexibility?

    • The ability to drive it in a relaxed manner and still enjoy the ride. The ability to take it to work or use it during the week. At least I think that's what those writers were after there. Axe murderer on the weekend, real world commuter. A public lady on your arm, a whore in the bedroom.

      1 Reply
    • Haha. Thanks, ric.

    • In our results chart, flexibility is the difference between the 0-60 time and the 5-60 time. A car with both numbers close to each other will score high. In semantic terms, a "flexible" engine is one that works well throughout the rev range and doesn't need to be in a certain band to provide  power.

      Does that help?


      3 Replies
    • I guess I gotta start reading the results charts again. Who knew they created a new meaningless category for the difference between first and second gear starts?

      The 5-60 is a start in 2nd, isn't it? Don't let me down on that one too hard, I've thought that since I first read the mag before I could even drive.

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      • Yeah, me too. I personally thought that was it too, as the Camaro had better flexibility and they mentioned the Camaro would be  the better cruiser.

      • Most of the cars are automatics and would kick down anyhow. No, I think a rolling start is just that - no allowance for brake-torquing or dumping the clutch. This is why you see a huge varience in 0-60 vs. 5-60 in cars like the WRX.

      • Ahh, ok.

    • Well it seems weird for a car like a 911 that has a short 1st for launches. It likely won't look as good. Hey, maybe I've fallen asleep on that one too, but it used to have a short 1st to improve 0-60 numbers.

      1 Reply
    • Well, in the end, the flexibility measure still relates to low-end torque which is what really makes for more flexibility in real driving as well, meaning it can be in any gear and not requiring to scream through the gears to yank power out of it or to drive in heavy traffic, at least that's what I want out of the idea of flexibility. It all works out to the same premise: low end and flat torque.

      However nice that is for driving at a normal pace without input and sensory overload, it's a hell of a lot less fun when you want hammer it.